Beverly Overnight Delivery Ban, Free Veteran Parking, Police Chief Contract Approved

BEVERLY, MA — New Beverly ordinances banning overnight deliveries to most businesses, providing free downtown parking to veterans and a contract extension for Police Chief John LeLacheur's contract through 2027 were approved at Monday night's Beverly City Council meeting.

The approvals wrapped discussions and debates that spanned several recent meetings, while the public hearing on a proposal to expand the availability of accessory dwelling units — or so-called in-law apartments — was closed as the City Council awaits a recommendation from the Planning Committee.

The overnight delivery ban prevents businesses — with the exception of those that provide food to be served and potentially consumed on-premise — from receiving deliveries between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The restriction is designed to apply to large grocery stores and box stores, especially those in residential neighborhoods, and does not apply to coffee shops that may need early deliveries because of early opening time.

Ward 5 Councilor Kathleen Feldman proposed the ordinance — designed with an eye toward businesses like the Shaw's in Beverly Commons —and worked with the city solicitor's office to refine the wording and shepherd it to passage.

"We're really comfortable where (the ordinance is) at in its current language," Feldman told the Council. "It would really mean a huge quality of life for my constituents."

The ordinance passed by a 7-2 vote.

The ordinance allowing for free parking for veterans at downtown municipal lots passed by a 9-0 vote.

Ward 1 Councilor Todd Rotondo and Ward 5 Councilor Steve Crowley proposed the ordinance.

"With myself being a veteran I think this is great for all of the veterans in the city," Crowley said. "I appreciate everybody passing this."

LeLacheur's contract extension was approved through 2027 when he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. That passed 8-1.

The City Council voted to close the public hearing on ADUs after additional public comment and discussion among the Council about the aspects of the proposed ordinance on whether a designated parking spot must be part of the ordinance, whether zoning variance should be allowed to construct ADUs, and with an assurance that the ADUs will not be used as short-term rentals, or so-called BnBs, which are not allowed in the city.

While the public comment on the debate is now closed, the Council will next receive the recommendation of the Planning Board and then continue discussion among themselves before a potential vote on passage.

"One of the things I think about when crafting the language is the equity between different types of households in the city and the use of different spaces in the city," said At-Large Hannah Bowen, who proposed the ordinance. "The comparisons are not what special permissions we are going to give to encourage ADUs — I would love to be having that conversion but I don't think we are having that conversation at this point — but what we're really talking about is whether someone who wants to use a space in the city to house someone who is looking to rent, do they have the same rights to do that as someone who is just looking to expand their own personal use of existing space?

"If we don't treat those two circumstances equitably then I think we're really telling renters or potential renters in our community then they don't have as much weight when it comes to being residents of our city, being contributors to our city, and I want us to be really careful about that."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)